Manor Overview

Coat of Arms

Argent, a bull's head caboshed sable.

The bull on the coat of arms is in homage to the original town and roman family who first settled this bend in the river Wylie. The argent silver of the crest represents the purity of the people while the sable is for their piety and dedication to the Church.

Crest

The crest on the helmet in the arms is the roman golden eagle, signifying the heart of their religion and the heart of their warrior spirit.

Motto

Iustus Esto Neque Timueris

Translated from the latin: Be just, and Fear Not. It is well in the hearts of both lord and vassal of Newton. Their ways are fairly rigid, but they are known to be just in their judgement and fair in their treatment of others.

Religion

"Do not err, my brethren. Those that corrupt families shall not inherit the kingdom of God. " -St. Ignatius of Antioch 105 A.D.

The faith of the people of Newton is deep-seeded and complex. Rarely does anyone raised in the area stray too far from their parent's beliefs, as they have been passed down lovingly over hundreds of generations. The church (and the Church) is important to the village, and the chapel at Newton Manor is well-appointed and run by a local bishop. They support the local abbey and many local young men and women see the clergy as a viable vocation.

Background

History of Newton

Prior to 443, Newton was an old Roman settlement called Oxbow Hill. It had existed in the same bend in the river Wylie since being established by the Ulipius family nearly four hundred years earlier. Over the years, as the power of the Ulipius family grew in Legio IX Hispana, the small family home grew into a thriving village of tradesmen, servants, and citizens. When the Ninth Legion eventually vanished from the annals of history, the Ulipius family was replaced by a new Centurion and his family. During this time, the village was strangely active, as if it had never lost the soldiers whose family called the village home.

Oxbow Hill became a full-fledged village around the year 300, and stayed fairly stable and isolated as the world around it moved on. Eventually, babies born in the town were as much Cyrmric as Roman. When the time came for the legions to leave Britain, the lord of the manor and ruler of Oxbow Hill was in the hands of the same family that has it today.

In 443, Saxon raiders marched through Salisbury and raided Oxbow Hill. The lord of Oxbow manor, Edwyn, was killed in the raid. His brother, Gwion de Oxbow rallied the defenses, freed the captured women and children, and beat back the Saxons. Gwion oversaw the lands for a while since Edwyn’s heir was still a baby; his pregnant mother was one of the women freed from the Saxons. During his leadership, Oxbow was moved to a more suitable location along the Wylie, and Newton was created as the area’s first grid-planned village.

Today, the Lord of Newton Manor is Gwydyn and his wife is Lady Alaw. They are well liked by the village, though there is quite a bit of suspicion about them and their people from the outside. The ruling family are strict Roman Christians, and seem to have a healthy distrust of the Pagans. Their support for the church and the people of their village means that knights supported by the family tend to have less fine clothing than others, though their armor, horses, and weapons are lovingly tended by the kindly-treated squires, and devoted townspeople.

Location

The Land

The lands controlled by the Newton Lord lie between a bend in the River Wylie in the east, just north from the Grovely Wood, and the far side of Newton Hill on the west. The northern boundaries is traditionally the chalk downs to the north. The valley is extremely fertile, and the hillside is prime grazing land for sheep and horses. Crops of all kinds are grown in the farms there, and there is a thriving wool industry that helps support the Lord and his vassal Knights. What they do not have, are the raw materials that they depend on for building and for warfare. Therefore, stone, iron, and wood are the chief imports.

Exports

The main export from Newton is wool and wool cloth manufactured at it's mill on the River Wylye. The cloth made in Newton is thick and durable, heavily woven and does not easily pull apart. Thanks to a recent agreement with Shrewton, there is a new cloth in development that uses beeswax with the wool to make it slightly water resistant, though this is still under heavy development and the house is secretive about it.

Imports

Stone, Iron, and Wood are all things needed in Newton. While most of the homes in the area are made of river stone, the waters in Newton are rather muddy, and there's not much in the way of quarried rock. Iron is needed for weapons, armor, and tools, and wood is needed in building and repairs.

Important Locations

Newton Manor

The manor house itself sits at the edge of Newton hill, overlooking the valley of the River Wylie. The building was constructed well over a century ago by the Roman family who ruled these same lands. The villa has not been changed much from its original layout. The house is the typical roman style, with two narrow floors built around a central courtyard. The bottom floor serves as stables, storage, and servant quarters, while the top floor is reserved for the family and noble vassals of the manor.

In recent years, the upkeep has been demanding, so there are many places where the old glory of the place has taken on a certain shabbiness.

Newton Abbey

The Roman Christian Abbey of Newton, services are generally held here from marriages to funerals. Most services are filled to capacity as many in the village and surroundings practice the faith. It is better upkept than the manor house, as the noble family believes in serving the church and it's needs faithfully.

Newton Village

The village sits in the valley to the west of Newton Hill, and has been completely rebuilt in the last sixty years. The houses are of mostly modern stone and thatch construction, though more of a few are made from the cheaper mud-brick materials. The buildings are built in a grid pattern, with one central avenue running from the river towards the villa up on the hill. Side-streets are straight, and a hard-packed track outlines the village, making it easy to get any building in just a few turns.

Oxbow Hill

Site of the original manor House, Oxbow Hill was captured and held by Saxons for several weeks during their raid on the area. After retaking the hill in a hellish battle, Sir Gwion decided to relocate the Manor Home to closer to the riverside. The hill is still Newton territory, used by shepherds to tend to their sheep among the ruins, and occasionally finding an artifact of Newton's former life in the form of pottery, rusted weapons and armor, or other such trinkets.

Pandy Wylie (a.k.a. Newton Mill)

On the river at the south-side of the village sits a rather large complex of small buildings and yards. It is where the fullers and dyers prepare the freshly made cotton materials into cloth that can be turned into their finished products. The place is run by Fuller Rhys and his wife Mildryn, and they are both protective of their product, and their workers. Lady Gwynfaer can often be found here helping out, especially if something needs to be made for the manor or one of the house knights.

Struminster/Newton Bridge

Located at the western outskirts of Newton, the Struminster/Newton bridge is one of the major crossing points from the River Wylie. Patrols check the bridge daily, and a small toll is paid by travellers to pay for upkeep of the bridge.

Political Relationships

With cousins in the manor and strong religious ties, the Dintons are allies.

Falt

After the Saxons attacked and captured Oxbow Hill and killed Sir Edwyn, several knights from the east assisted Sir Gwion in taking back the area. Forces from Falt were foremost in the retaking of the area, as such Newton owes Falt a debt of gratitude and will always rise in defense of Falt should the need arise.

Horton

Allied to Newton by the marriage of Joachim de Newton and Lady Lydia de Horton.

Idmiston

While distrustful of the Pagan nature of the Idmiston house, the two have had a good trade policy of fruit and wine from Idmiston being on Newton tables and markets while cloth and mutton from Newton is in Idmiston homes. In one of his first acts as heir, Joachim and Sir Talfryn, the recently promoted heir of Idmiston worked together and secured a trade agreement and a political match between the Pagan heir and Joachim's cousin, Lady Bryn, securing the manor as allies.

Stapleford

Commonality of religion and its presence down river have lead Newton to seek closer relations with Stapleford. Member of the Roman Christian Triangle.

Willcott

Those of the faith can perhaps be allies as well. It may be a chance to find a common bond with their family.

Woodford

The upcoming marriage of Dalan to Lauwryn only strengthens our ties with the House Woodford.

Baverstock

Recently Baverstock and Newton were close to making an alliance, via marriage. Sir Lorcan, uncle and advisor to head of Baverstock Manor Sir Bryce, had in fact almost secured a very prestigious match for his oldest daughter Syndra to Sir Joachim, at the time a Vanguard knight. The negotiation had already reached a point where the betrothal was almost finalized. But then the proposal was eventually rejected by Sir Gwydyn, due especially to the comparatively liberal position of House Baverstock towards Pagans among the commoners living on their lands. Sir Lorcan fumed. So did his daughter. When Sir Joachim took over as heir following the death of his brother, his choice of wife was Lady Lydia de Horton, from a house that is not quite as liberal as Baverstock, has further complicated relations.

Shrewton

There is a thriving trade between Shrewton's honey and clay and Newton's textiles. However, with Shrewton's rather open religious and marital policies, political friendship ties are strained with the more strict and isolated Newton house. Recently, wax from Shrewton has added a water-resistant quality to Newton's cloth, creating a small supply of rain cloaks.

Pitton

Pitton is as far to the east of Sarum as Newton is to the west. Both Houses share in a common business - cloth and weaving. However, that is where the similarity ends. Pitton's cloth is colorful, dainty, and with their lace-making techniques, elegant. Newton cloth is strong, durable, and because of trade with Shrewton, slightly water-resistant. This puts both houses at odds with what cloth is better and led to more than one challenge and in one case even a fight between two tradesmen at a booth in the market. Both Houses try to secure as their cloth as the only for the other Manors, but most of the time both Newton and Pitton textiles may be found in the houses.

Winterbourne Stoke

There were high hopes of an alliance with Winterbourne Stoke with the negotiation for the betrothal of their Heir, Harken, to the Newton cousin Bryn. However, as the House made no attempts to contact Newton to secure the match, it is with sadness and anger that Newton has dissolved the match and it has caused a major rift in relations with the Winterbourne Manor.

Residents

Noble Family Members

Cousin, married to Talfryn, bringing an alliance between Newton and Idmiston.

Niclas de Horton

Brother to Joachim by marriage.

Enfys de Cholderton née Horton

Sister to Joachim by marriage.

Wilhelm de Steeple Langford née Horton

Brother to Joachim by marriage.

Talfryn de Idmiston

Bryn's husband, cousin by marriage.

Bradwyn de Idmiston

Water Leaper Bait/Slayer.

Deryn de Pitton

Water Leaper Slayer.

Dalan de Newton

Cousin to Joachim who was once ward of Sir Gwydyn and Lady Alaw. His father, Sir Gwyliam, was brother to Sir Gwydyn, and was killed at the battle of Lindsey in 490 AD. Dalan is treated like one of the Newton Manor siblings.

Laurwyn de Newton née Woodford

Wife to Dalan.

Emrys de Newton

Cousin to Joachim who was once ward of Sir Gwydyn and Lady Alaw. His father, Sir Gwyliam, was brother to Sir Gwydyn, and was killed at the battle of Lindsey in 490 AD. Emrys is treated like one of the Newton Manor siblings. This character is available for application via +roster.

Gwion de Newton

The oldest son of Gwydyn de Newton, Gwion was captured and killed by Dorset forces in the Summer of 514.

Sir Gwydyn de Newton, current Knight Lord of Newton. He has served as Lord of the manor for over 30 years, and is thought to soon retire. He fell ill during the winter of 514/515 and has turned over day to day duties to Joachim.

Lady of Newton Manor and head of the local trade guild. Having just given birth to what one hopes to be her last child, she is currently very busy with recuperating and seeing to the wellbeing of the baby. She has a nanny, but being the hands-on type, the nanny doesn't have to do much.

Lady Gwynfaer de Newton is wife to Sir Gwion and mother to Hafren (2) and Iona (<1). She is now training Lydia in the ways of the house and stewardship to prepare her for her turn as the heir's wife.

Commoners

Now Recruiting Seamstresses, Shepherds, and Mill Workers!
If you are interested in joining Newton, please contact Joachim in-game.

Family Tree

Family Tree (image recommended; ask Arian if you would like a Family Tree image created)

Timeline

Year

Event

439

Battle of Carlion

443

Edwyn Killed by Saxon Raiders

460-461

Iago Knighted

464

Iago Married

465

Gwydyn Born

466-467

Iago Died, Siege of Carlion

485

Gwydyn Knighted

485

Battle of Mercred Creak

489

Gwion born

490

Battle of Lindsey

490

Joachim born

491

Battle of Terrabil

503

Siege of London

505

Battle of Levcomagus

507

Liberation of London

508

Battle of Netley Marsh

510

First Tournament, witnessed sword drawn from stone

510

Battle of Carlion

512

Battle of Bassus River

513

Morning Battle - Terrabil

512

Gwion Knighted

513

Joachim Knighted

514

August - Gwion is captured and executed by Dorset forces. Joachim, Gwion's young brother, becomes Heir.